Rotating outdoor sign construction



United States Patent O 2,978,821 ROTATING OUTDOOR SIGN CONSTRUCTION Julian E. Kaufmann, Jr., P.O. Box 372, 311 Revell Drive,

i Florence, S.C.

Filed July 23, 1958, Ser. No. 750,512

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-33) This invention relates to an advertising or display sign.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which can be mounted in a convenient location such as outdoors whereby advertising messages, displays or the like can be arranged or displayed in a highly attractive and elfective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outdoor display or advertising device which includes a plurality of members that are adapted to be selectively rotated and wherein the members have printed or advertising matter thereon so that persons driving in vehicles or the like will be readily attracted to the message being displayed on the device of the present invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotating outdoor sign construction which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other obiects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the rotating outdoor sign construction of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention.

Referring indetail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the rotating outdoor sign of the present invention which is shown 'to comprise a horizontally disposed platform 11 and is adapted to be supported by a plurality of vertically disposed spaced parallel posts 12. The lower ends of the posts 12 may be secured within the ground inany suitable manner or the posts 12 can be supported or secured to a suitable supporting structure. The numeral 13 indicates brackets which serve to connect the plaform 11 to the posts 12, Figure 1.

.There is further provided a rectangular open frame which is indicated generally bythe numeral 14, and the frame 14 is supported above the platform 11. The frame 14 includes spaced parallel vertically disposed side sections 15, and horizontally disposed spaced parallel bottom and top sections 16 and 17.

The numeral 18 indicates a motor such as an electric motor which is arranged contiguous to the platform 11, and the motor 18 serves to drive a shaft 19, Figure 2.

Connected to the shaft 19 is a gear wheel which is indicated generally by the numeral 20, and the gear wheel 20 includes a sector shaped portion 21 which is provided with a plurality of teeth 22.

There is further provided a gear member which is indicated generally by the numeral 23, and the gear member 23 includes a first section 24 which is adapted to be selectively engaged by the teeth 22 as the gear member 20 is rotated by the shaft 19. The gear member 23 further includes a second section 25 which has an endless chain 26 arranged in engagement therewith.

There is further provided a plurality of spaced apart 2,978,821 Patented Apr. 11, 1961 gears which are each indicated by the numeral 27, and

r the gears 27 are rotatably supported by bearings 28 which are held in place by suitable securing elements such as the bolt and nut assemblies 29.

Movably mounted within the frame 14 is a plurality of support members which are each indicated by the numeral' 30. Each of the support members 30 includes spaced parallel end portions 31, a top portion 32, and a bottom portion 33 which is provided with an opening 34 therein, Figure 3. The end portions 31 and bottom portion 33 form a relatively light, substantially rigid bordering framework for the support members 30. Arranged within each support member 30 is a stationary partition 35, and the numeral 36 designates a movable T-shaped member which includes a bar 37 that is movably mounted between the portions 31. Depending from the bar 37 is a shank 38 which extends throughthe opening 34, and a coil spring 39 is interposed between the partition 35 and bar 37.

A means is provided for detachably connecting the shank 38 of a particular support member to a corresponding gear 27 therebelow, and this means comprises a socket or recess 40 arranged in each gear 27, and the lower portion of the shank 38 is seated in the recess 40. A pin 41 extends through the top of the,

gear 27 and through the shank 38 for maintaining the shank 38 connected to the gear 27. However, by removing the pin 41 the shank 38 can be moved up out of the socket 40 as for example when one or more of the support members 30 are to be removed or replaced. "the support members 30 are provided with side portions 42 WhlCfl are of thin lightweight material and are rigidly altixed to portions 31, 32 and 35 and are adapted to have advertisements or printed matter thereon and this printed matter is alfixed by suitable adhesives on both sides of the side portions 42 of each support member 30.

As shown in rigure 2, idlers 44 are arranged in engagement with the chain 26, and end portions of the support members 30 are beveled or inclined as at 45.

bupported on the top section 17 of the trame 14 are bearings 46 which are held in place by clamps 47, and the clamps 47 may be connected as at 48 to the top section 17, rigure 3. Stems or trunmons 49 extend upwardly from the support members 30 and are arranged in engagement with the bearings 46.

The numeral 50 indicates brackets which may have an L-shape, and the bracket 50 serves to connect the top section 17 of the frame 14 to the upper ends of the posts 12. l rom the foregoing, it is apparent that there has bee provided an outdoor rotating sign construction which can be used for displaying various types of advertis ng or the like. ln use, the support members 30 are adapted to have suitable printed matter or advertising arranged on the sides 42, and with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that when the motor 18 is actuated the shaft 19 will be turned to thereby rotate the gear wheel 20. As the gear wheel 20 rotates, it causes the sector 21 to travel through a 360 degree path,

24, the gear 25 will be moved a predetermined distance and as the gear 25 moves, it moves the chain 26 since the chain 26 meshes with the gear 25. This movement of the chain 26 is imparted to the plurality of gears 27 which also mesh with the chain 26, and the gears 27 are connected to the support members 341) by means of the arrangement shown in Figure 3. Thus, it will be seen that each revolution of the shaft 19 will cause a corresponding movement of the plurality of support members 30 so that these support members 30 will move simultaneously as for example from the solid line position shown Figure 2 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. This movement of the support members 30 with advertising thereon will provide a highly attractiye effect so that motorists or other persons will be attracted to' the message or advertising being displayed on the support members 30.

It is to be noted that the support members 30 have two flat sides 42 so that advertisements can be printed or arranged on both sides whereby the support members can be used for advertising purposes regardless of their position.

The frame 14 which supports the moving support members 30 is supported above the platform 11, and the posts 12 which may be embedded in the ground, serve to support the frame 14 and platform 11.

The brackets 50 and 13 may be secured as by welding to the posts 12.

It is to be noted that as the motor 18 is actuated, the sup-port members 30 will be rotated or moved a predetermined distance, and then the support members 30 will remain stationary for a predetermined period of time so that a message printed or otherwise arranged thereon will be readily visible to persons in vehicles or the like and then after a further period of time the support members 30 will be rotated still more and this process will be repeated so that a highly attractive effect will be created.

The printed matter or advertisement may be arranged on sheets or the like which can be secured to the sides 42 of the support members 30 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a suitable adhesive.

The chain 26 causes rotation of the support members 30 through the medium of the gears 27 as previously described.

Furthermore, when desired any of the support mem Bets 30 can be readily removed from the frame 14, as when a particular support member is to be replaced. Thus, by removing the pin 41, the T-shaped member 36 can be moved upwardly to compress the spring 39 so that the shank 38 will clear the socket 40 whereby the support member 30 including the trunnion 49 can be disconnected and replaced as desired.

The lower portions of the gears 27 are rotatably supported by the bearings 28 as shown in Figure 3.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diflerent shapes or sizes. 7

As previously stated, the ends of the support members or panels 30 are beveled as indicated by the numeral 45. Suitable check springs can be used for holding the members 30 in place so as to permit the advertisingcopy to be readily viewed.

'Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a rotating display device for billboards or outdoor advertis-- ing posters or the like. The device permits both sides 42 of the panels or members 30 to be alternately displayed by posting and revolving the advertisements. A syni from the display site.

4 chronided 180 degree movement of the six members 30 is regulated by means of the previously described structure which completes a revolution and then there is another viewing interval to display the alternate poster. The members 30 are removable and posting the advertisement on the front and back faces 42 can be readily accomplished by removing and posting at a point remote The posters can be secured by means of adhesive to the faces 42 of the members 30 and the posters can be secured to the complete faces of the sections or members 30 and then separated into six units by cutting the paper posters along the edges of the 7 sections and the sections or members 30 with the attached advertisement can then be mounted on the supbers'30 will remain stationary to permit the advertising copy to 'be viewed on each side. By exerting manual pressure, the tension of the springs 39 can be overcome so as to permit the member 30 to be readily removed and replaced whereby the advertisements can be posted at a remote location.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim: I

In a rotating outdoor sign construction, a horizontally disposed platform, a rectangular open frame supported above said platform, a motor arranged contiguous to said platform, a plurality of support members rotatably supported in said frame and operably connected to said motor, a T-shaped member having the horizontal portion thereof disposed within each of said support members and the vertical portions thereof being disposed to extend through each of said support members and rotatably mounted on said platform, each of said support members having a partition therein, a coil spring extending between. each of said partitions and the horizontal portions of each of said T-shaped members, trunnions extending from the upper portion of each of said support members and engaging bearings on the upper portion of. said frame.

Referencesv Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

